OzIris is a Bolliger & Mabillard inverted roller coaster at Parc Astérix in Plailly, France, that opened on April 7, 2012. Set within an elaborate Egyptian-themed area inspired by the comic book “Asterix and Cleopatra,” the ride takes its name from Iris, a character who claims the power to make people fly.
Riders dangle beneath the track through a course of five inversions, including a dive loop, vertical loop, Immelmann, and corkscrew, before plunging into an underwater tunnel that adds a unique finishing touch rarely seen on inverted coasters. The attraction was recognized among the year’s best new rides by Amusement Today’s Golden Ticket Awards shortly after debuting.
Stats at a Glance
- Park: Parc Astérix, Plailly, France
- Manufacturer: Bolliger & Mabillard
- Opened: April 7, 2012
- Height: about 131 ft (40 m)
- Top speed: about 56 mph (90 km/h)
- Length: about 3,280 ft (1,000 m)
- Inversions: 5
The Ride Experience
OzIris sends its trains through a chain-lift ascent before diving into a sequence that includes a dive loop, an overbanked turn, a vertical loop, an Immelmann, and a corkscrew-style zero-G roll. The layout is notable as one of the first B&M inverted coasters to feature a dive loop element paired with an Immelmann in the same course.
A standout moment comes near the end of the ride, where the track dips through an underwater tunnel roughly 6 meters deep, giving riders a brief, disorienting view through glass as they race past the base of the Egyptian-themed lagoon.
Theming and Legacy
The coaster anchors a themed area built around the Asterix and Cleopatra storyline, with a reported combined investment of about €20 million across the ride and its surrounding Egyptian land. Announcements over the PA reference the goddess Iris granting riders the ability to fly, tying the queue and station theming directly into the ride’s narrative.
OzIris remains one of Parc Astérix’s marquee attractions and helped raise the park’s profile among European thrill-seekers when it placed among the top new coasters worldwide in its debut year.
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OzIris FAQs
Who manufactured OzIris?
OzIris was built by Bolliger & Mabillard (B&M), a Swiss manufacturer known for its inverted coaster models.
How many inversions does OzIris have?
OzIris features 5 inversions, including a dive loop, vertical loop, Immelmann, and corkscrew-style roll.
When did OzIris open?
OzIris opened at Parc Astérix on April 7, 2012.
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Photo: Joseolgon / CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.